In this recipe, sweet Alaskan shrimp are sauteed in a smoky, just-spiced-enough seasoning blend until juicy and delicious. They become the ideal topping to spoon over a bowl of creamy cheddar grits, for a cozy and comforting meal.
It’s best to peel the shrimp before cooking so that they can fully absorb the flavor of the seasoning blend — a mix of spices that you likely have in your pantry right now.
If you’re missing one or two of the spices, don’t worry. You can omit them without losing too much complexity in the blend. Note: if you don’t have smoked paprika, substitute sweet or regular paprika instead. The blend will lack the intensely savory, smoky flavor of smoked paprika, but the sweet/regular paprika will give you the color that you’re looking for.
Any variety of shrimp can be used, such as sugary sidestriped shrimp or a larger, more buttery species like spot prawns.